UNIVERSITY OF CASTILLA LA MANCHA MINING AND ENGINEERING SCHOOL ALMADEN INFLUENCING THE WORLD SINCE 1777. WE HELP YOU SHAPE YOUR FUTURE HERE

Welcome to the Mining and Industrial Engineering School of Almadén.
The University is small enough to feel warm and friendly, but big enough to provide outstanding extracurricular opportunities.
By coming to Almaden, you will share in our proud heritage and help shape our future. We hope that when you see all that our school has to offer, you will decide that this is the place for you.
For centuries we have provided a skilled, professional workforce and groundbreaking research of regional, national and international importance. Our School is recognized not only for the value of our degrees but also for the additional skills and qualities students develop alongside their studies.
We offer the highest quality academic experience. Students constitute an active part of a leading academic community. You will be working alongside teachers who are experts in their fields. Our support services include a unit for international students who decide to study with us. Our support services will be available to you right from the start of you arrival, until the end of your degree.
We provide our engineering students with real opportunities for them to develop employability skills including leadership, problem solving, communication, team work, entrepeneurship and creativity.
As an international student, we are here to give you the benefit of our expertise. We have a dedicated and experienced international team of advisers who will help and guide you while you are studying with us.
Mixing with native language speakers socially, and participating in student activities, sports teams etc. help you develop your language skills and gain confidence. Our School will help you by providing Spanish language courses and individual support.
You will graduate from MINING AND ENGINEERING SCHOOL ALMADEN (EIMIA) prepared for the changing economic landscape of the 21st century.
Engineering at EIMIA isn´t just about building things, but building relationships.
There is a keen focus on developing teamwork , communication and leadership abilities, which are just as valuable in industry as academic prowess.

STUDENT-CENTRED LEARNING

While your own opinions and ideas are developed, we will put you at the centre of the learning process. Depending upon the engineering branch chosen, this will mean that in your lectures and tutorials you will focus on solving problems and evaluating the evidence that underlies the facts and ideas, as well as taking part in small-scale investigations, fieldwork, projects and research. You will find that studying at Almaden’ s Engineering School is demanding, rewarding and enjoyable.
As you progress through your degree programme, this approach will enable you to control your own learning and encourage you to develop the qualities that employers are looking for in today’s university graduates: creativity, independence, teamworking, goal setting and problem solving. These skills will give you the tools to succeed in your future career.
Your own opinions count and we can help you put ideas into action, we will put you at the centre of the learning process. Depending on the branch of engineering you choose, you will focus on solving problems and evaluating the evidence that underlies your field of study. You will take part in small-scale investigations, fieldwork, projects and research. You will find that studying at EIMIA is demanding, rewarding and enjoyable.

As you progress through your degree programme, this approach will enable you to control your own learning and encourage you to develop the qualities that employers are looking for in today´s university graduates: creativity, independence, teamworking, goalsetting and problem solving. These skills will give you the tools to succeed in your future career.

LABORATORY-BASED WORK

Our laboratories allow students to experience science first-hand. Whether it is analyzing mineral samples while on a fieldtrip or exploring principles of Chemistry, you develop skills with the full support of our teachers and staff.
It is your chance to recreate some of the groundbreaking experiments that pushed forward the boundaries of knowledge within your field, get practical experience and apply knowledge you have learnt in your lectures in a laboratory setting. Through these sessions, you will learn to expertly analyse real-life problems, which will equip you with the practical and analytical skills so valued by employers.

GUIDED INDEPENDENT STUDY

Self-study is an important element of your education. At university you have to supplement your understanding through research into different perspectives on engineering topics. Lectures map out the ground of the topic and stimulate your curiosity. Then you find out more through your own independent study and teamwork with classmates, both before and after the lecture itself.

SMALL GROUP LEARNING

Small group learning occurs regularly in smaller groups led by academic members of staff. These will be particularly intensive during your first year to help you make the transition to university. These group sessions will include seminars, workshops and academic tutorials where you will have a chance to present and share your ideas, debate interpretations and opinions with fellow students, discuss assignments, and work on particular problems and topics with the guidance of staff members.

PEER-GROUP LEARNING

Peer-group learning is where you may be asked by your tutor to direct a lesson or prepare a presentation on a specified engineering subject with your fellow classmates. By interacting with lesson material, you will become experts in the area and remember the content more effectively.

PERSONAL TUTORS

Personal tutors are teachers who are assigned to students as your individual academic tutor for the duration of your studies. They will support your academic progress, the development of your skills and assist you with any issues.
You will have regular contact with your tutor and are encouraged to see them whenever you need support. English speaking tutors will be also available during your time with us in Almadén.
Choosing a university abroad is one of the most important and exciting decisions you will ever make. Here you will find all you need to know before you apply, from the best course for you, to what you can expect from life at Almadén.
There are helpful pathway opportunities for international students, including Spanish language and Foundation courses, to help you meet the requirements of your chosen degree.
Almadén has partnerships with many international institutions, which create study abroad and work placement opportunities as part of its programmes. The university provides dedicated support for its international students, with a choice of accommodation on campus and shared flats.
Almadén’s international and Erasmus exchange programmes offer challenging experiences that will give you new perspectives on your engineering studies, an understanding of a different culture, improved language skills, an international network of friends, exciting travel opportunities and transferable skills that will enhance your CV.

ADAPTING TO NEW TECHNOLOGIES

We have remodeled our classrooms to adapt to different student requirements and the increasing use of smart phones and other new technologies. We have created new study areas with technology and group study facilities. This enables our teachers to adapt and respond to the changing ways you will learn and interact with your fellow students.
All facilities at EIMIA have WIFI access.
Our Virtual Learning Environment, Moodle, we include online course content, programme materials, assessment and discussion boards as well as updated information concerning events, cultural life, concerts, seminars, lectures etc.

ENGINEERING DEGREES

In Almaden we offer a four-year degree in all engineering subject areas. This differs significantly from degree structures in the rest of the European Union and is similar to systems found in many other parts of the world.
The four year system:
1. Provides flexibility in subject choice - allowing students to experience new or non-school subjects without committing to them longer term;
2. Helps maintain our high graduation rate by allowing many of our students to choose to graduate in subjects they did not originally intend to specialise in, and to move away from their original choice;
3. Allows students to mature academically (and emotionally) before committing to any particular specialisation, and in doing so develop their intellectual skills;
4. Provides academic breadth which is valuable in terms of academic development,and is also attractive to employers;

TEACHING AND LEARNING

As a University student in the Mining and Industrial Engineering school of Almaden you are part of an academic group and will learn from experts in every field of study. At EIMIA we advocate a student-centered learning approach, from the outset you will be encouraged to become an independent and self-motivated learner, qualities that are highly sought after by employers. We want you to be challenged and will encourage you to think for yourself.
Your learning will take place in a range of different settings, from scheduled teaching in lectures and small group tutorials, to self-study and peer group learning (for example preparing and delivering presentations with your classmates).
To begin with you may find this way of working challenging, but we will make sure you make this transition. You will have access to a comprehensive support system that will assist and encourage you, including personal tutors and welfare tutors who can help with both academic and welfare issues, and a formal tutor for your first year to check on your progress and offer you help for any particular areas where you need support.Personal Tutor: At the start of your degree, you will be assigned a Personal Tutor who will remain with you throughout your studies to help you in three important areas: supporting your academic progress, developing transferable skills and dealing with any welfare issues.Delivery of the course
In your first and second years, the course is delivered as lectures, small group workshops, laboratories, computer-based activities, enquiry-based learning and tutorials. A strong emphasis is placed on design and research project work in your third and fourth years respectively.Laboratory-based practical work forms an integral part of the School's degree programmes. Laboratory classes not only develop your experimental practical skills, but also reinforce concepts introduced in lectures or explore a particular phenomenon. Practical sessions, typically, last three hours.Small-group tutorials/personal tutorials run alongside the lecture course, addressing any individual problems you may have and allowing you to consolidate the lecture material, as well as test your understanding through problem-solving exercises. Your Personal Tutor is assigned to you at the start of your course and remains with you until graduation, helping you in three important areas: supporting your academic progress, developing transferable skills and helping with welfare issues.VLE (Virtual Learning environment) MOODLE provides an environment where your learning process is driven by student-centered methodologies. The lecturer's role is purely as a facilitator. Typically a group activity, this requires working in a team and you can be assessed in a variety of ways: in either a group or individually, by written reports and sometimes as a presentation.Project work: The range of projects in your final year includes practical work in the laboratory, computer-based projects, or theoretical studies. You can choose the topic of your project from a pool of titles and work with your project supervisor to tailor it to your particular research interests. Many projects are directly linked to supervisor's current research projects and many have industrial links. Students are also free to propose their own projects, so long as a suitable supervisor can be identified.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Studying at degree-level is likely to be very different from your previous experience of learning and teaching. You will be expected to think, discuss and engage critically with the subject and find things out for yourself. We will enable you to make this transition to a new style of learning, and the way that you are assessed during your studies will help you develop the essential skills you need to make a success of your time at EIMIA.
You will be assessed in a variety of ways, and these may be different with each module that you take. You will be assessed through coursework which may take the form of essays, group and individual presentations, laboratory-based work (depending on your chosen degree) and formal exams. Nearly 64% of the assessment of this course is by written examination.
You will be assessed in a variety of ways, and these may be different with each module that you take. You will be assessed through coursework which may take the form of essays, group and individual presentations, laboratory-based work (depending on your chosen degree) and formal exams. Nearly 64% of the assessment of this course is by written examination.
Each module is assessed independently. Assessment methods used include end-of-year examinations, written assignments, oral and poster presentations, computer-based tests, class tests and laboratory and project reports. Some modules are completely assessed by coursework. Credit is awarded under three headings:

Examinations for lecture courses.

Continuous assessment for various kinds of project work.

Laboratories.

Early years are dominated by examination as you concentrate on the underpinning engineering principles. As you move into later years, the increased emphasis on project work shifts the balance towards continuous assessment.
We place strong emphasis on providing prompt and informative feedback on all pieces of work that you submit during your studies. Feedback comes in a variety of forms, including written feedback on pieces of assessment, class feedback sessions and one-on-one discussions with your tutors. In all cases, the feedback will highlight the good points as well as those areas that require more attention.
During your first year the University will require you to undergo a formal 'transition' review, mentioned above, to see how you are getting on and if there are particular areas where you need support. This is in addition to the personal tutor who is based in the School and can help with any academic issue you encounter. At the beginning of each module, you will be given information on how and when you will be assessed for your particular programme of study. You will receive feedback on each assessment within four weeks, so that you can learn from and build upon what you have done. You will be given feedback on any exams that you take; if you should fail an exam, we will ensure that particularly detailed feedback is made available to enable you to learn for the future.